Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions and why there are no more excuses, Pat Caputo says

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, is sacked by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 14-13. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

For Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford’s supporters, there have been “reasons” he has not soared.

To Stafford’s detractors, those are “excuses.”

Those on both sides of the fence agree there are no more “reasons” nor “excuses” for Stafford.

Not after the Lions’ most significant decisions during the off season centered on making Stafford an elite NFL QB.

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He is no longer inexperienced. Stafford is entering his sixth NFL season.

He is no longer being presented as a sacrificial lamb as the first overall NFL Draft pick of a winless NFL franchise. The Lions have plenty of star power. Calvin Johnson, Ndamukong Suh, D’Andre Levy and Reggie Bush all joined Stafford recently being rated among the NFL Network’s Top 100 players.

Throw Bush, an outstanding receiver out of the backfield, into the mix, it can no longer be said Stafford doesn’t have receiving threats other than Megatron.

It’s not just the receivers, either. The Lions have developed a strong offensive line to protect Stafford. Left tackle Riley Reiff was a first-round draft pick, and guard Larry Warford a third-rounder with Pro Bowl talent.

Stafford will have plenty of time to throw, a solid running game and multiple top-end receivers to work with in 2014.

And when the Lions hired a new head coach, it was Jim Caldwell – Peyton Manning’s former quarterbacks coach.

Contradictions abound with Stafford.

Statistically, no Lions’ quarterback, and few in NFL history, can match his gaudy statistics considering his age (26). He has also led the Lions to a dozen come-from-behind wins, so there have been clutch moments.

Yet, in 2013, on his way to having one of the best seasons ever by an NFL quarterback, Stafford threw 13 interceptions in the final seven games. A 6-3 record subsequently turned into a 7-9 disaster.

There were other factors. Uncharacteristic drops by Johnson. Untimely fumbles by Bush. A disappearing act by Suh in key games vs. the Ravens and Giants.

However, the biggest culprit was Stafford.

Stafford passed such a late-season test with flying colors in 2011, while leading the Lions to their first playoff appearance since 1999. Upon further review in ‘13, he failed the exam.

Which Matthew Stafford will show up if a similar scenario arises in ’14?

There are some quarterbacks, who lift their team out of tough spots. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger come to mind first.

There are those who tend to come up short after getting their teams in deciding spots – Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers and Tony Romo come to mind.

In which group does Stafford belong?

His supporters would say they don’t know yet. His detractors would say they already do.

Given what the Lions have done for Stafford, we should all know for sure after the 2014 season.

About the Author

Pat Caputo has written as a beat writer and sports columnist for The Oakland Press since 1984 and blogs at http://patcaputo.blogspot.com/. Reach the author at pat.caputo@oakpress.com
or follow Pat on Twitter: @PatCaputo98.